Nottingham City Council appoints new Chief Executive

He has a successful track record in managing large-scale customer-facing services, organisational change and transformation initiatives, and delivering substantial regeneration and development projects.

Nottingham City Council has appointed Mel Barrett, currently Chief Executive of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, as its permanent new Chief Executive.

Mel’s appointment follows the departure of Ian Curryer at the end of April to take up a role as Chair of Children First Northamptonshire. Katherine Kerswell is currently the Interim Chief Executive to help guide the authority through the current Covid-19 crisis, until Mel takes up the permanent role in September.

He has a successful track record in managing large-scale customer-facing services, organisational change and transformation initiatives, and delivering substantial regeneration and development projects.

Prior to joining Basingstoke and Deane, Mel was Executive Director of Housing and Regeneration at the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, where he worked to secure the HS2 Crossrail interchange station in the borough, bringing significant investment. Before that he was Oxford City Council’s Executive Director for City Regeneration and Director of the London Development Agency.

City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, said: “I am delighted with Mel’s appointment to the role of Chief Executive at the City Council. He brings with him a wealth of experience at other councils and elsewhere and his credentials will undoubtedly help us to realise our enduring ambitions for the city beyond the current coronavirus crisis.

“Our Interim Chief Executive Katherine Kerswell will continue to steer the council through this difficult time where we are having to adapt and change to respond to issues the pandemic is presenting for our city. I’m confident she will hand over to Mel a council which is continuing to successfully deliver vital services to local communities and remains ambitious for a bright future for Nottingham.”

Mel, who is married with two sons now at university, said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Chief Executive and I look forward to working with Cllr Mellen, Leader of the Council, members, officers and partners to build on the strong foundations in place, and to continue the vital work underway to support residents and further improve the city into the future.”